Sharks Unleash The Youth For The Future

After a turbulent and inconsistent United Rugby Championship campaign, Sharks coach JP Pietersen believes his side’s final home performance against Zebre Parma offers a definitive glimpse into the franchise’s future.

The Sharks ran in eight tries to secure a commanding 54-19 victory over Zebre at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, ending their URC season in style.

The selection of a squad with 60% of players under the age of 23 officially represents the youngest starting 23 the franchise has ever fielded in a tier-one professional domestic or cross-border league match.

A brace of tries from Siya Kolisi and a 15-point haul from 19-year-old debutant Vusi Moyo spearheaded the bonus-point rout.

Despite finishing outside the top eight and missing the URC play-offs, Pietersen praised his players for concluding a challenging campaign on a positive note for their loyal supporters.

“It’s a good ending for the fans that have been with us through the difficult times,” Pietersen said.

“I’ve been asking the boys to give the fans something they can talk about.

“We want to speak positively about our last game and how we can take that momentum into the pre-season.”

The Sharks were forced to navigate a lengthy injury list throughout the season, but the setbacks created opportunities for several young players to step up and stake their claim for future selection.

Pietersen revealed that nearly 60 percent of the matchday squad against Zebre consisted of players under the age of 23.

“You are always going to get entertainment with the young kids,” he said.

“The balance of the side was good. Andre Esterhuizen knows when to slow things down. It even felt like Ox (Nche) was one of the younger guys with his energy and the way he moved the ball. It just shows the influence the young players can have on the older guys.”

The former Springbok wing believes the combination of youth and experience is beginning to form a solid foundation for the future.

“The balance of the group is beautiful. We have the pieces now, so it’s a matter of how we can put them together,” he explained.

Although results did not always go their way, Pietersen insisted the squad showed resilience throughout the season.

“We showed resilience for the entire season, and we did put pride back into the jersey. There was a fight in every game. It’s just unfortunate that some results did not go our way, and that is why we are where we are.”

Pietersen also highlighted the importance of developing a clear identity as the Sharks look ahead to next season.

“I see this period as a learning curve. To find your identity, you first need to have one. On Saturday, we showed that we are fast, physical, and relentless, and that is the identity we want to build on going into next season.”

With the season now over, Pietersen stressed the importance of mentally resetting before returning for pre-season preparations.

“It’s good to have a mental break, completely away from the game. It’s an opportunity to reset and come back next season with a mindset not only to compete, but to win things.”